Evaluation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Complaints Submitted to Disciplinary Court of Mashhad Medical Council during 2013-2014

Background: One of the most important professional problems for doctors is patient grievances and complaints to the judiciary and its consequences in their personal and professional lives. Despite the efforts of doctors and medical staff in service delivery to patients and specific sanctity of the field, complaint rate is growingly increasing. Advances in obstetrics and gynecology have increased expectations of human society. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the incidence of medical errors in the field of obstetrics and gynecology in accordance with disciplinary court records in Mashhad Medical Council in the years 2013-2014.
Methods: This is a retrospective and cross-sectional study conducted based on census. In this study, all records of complaints in the field of obstetrics and gynecology registered in Disciplinary Court of Mashhad Medical Council was investigated from the beginning of 2013 until the end of 2014. Data included plaintiff’s gender, education, complaint topic, the organization referring the dossier and the type of decision.
Results: Between 2013 and 2014, 701 complaints were registered in Disciplinary Court of Mashhad Medical Council among which 135 complaints were related to the field of obstetrics and gynecology. 17.8% of plaintiffs were men and 82.2% of them were women. Of the 135 complaints of obstetrics and gynecology, most of them related to the death of children (25%), natural childbirth complications in infants (15%) and maternal mortality (10%), respectively. Most referral litigation cases of obstetrics and gynecology in the years 2013-2014 related to private plaintiffs (47.4%). According to expert bodies, 69% of plaintiffs received a sentence of acquittal and 11% were found guilty. In addition, consent was obtained from 2.2% of plaintiffs and 17.8% of files were archived according to experts.
Conclusion: According to the complaints of obstetrics and gynecology and determination of their causes, following practices are essential in order to reduce complaints and increase patient satisfaction: improved doctor-patient relationships, doctors paying more attention to symptoms, tests, medical history and condition and pregnant mothers’ statements, detailed examination of the pregnant mother in late pregnancy (the individual being under the supervision, monitoring, NST test and checking the fetal heart rate) and the presence of a midwife bedside pregnant women in late pregnancy.